USAA, Deployment, and Foreign Transaction Fees

March 15, 2012 | Kate

Because they are awesome, USAA offers a wide variety of benefits to help military service members and their families during a deployment.  I just recently learned of one new benefit that is pretty … [Read more...]

Powers of Attorney

February 04, 2012 | Kate

If you've ever sat through a pre-deployment legal brief, you've heard the mandate:  Make sure your spouse (or whomever is handling your financial affairs) has a power of attorney.  Sounds simple … [Read more...]

Free Books for Military Families

August 02, 2011 | Kate

Wow!  What an awesome silver lining!  Just today, I discovered that MilitaryOneSource had discontinued their popular free book program, and then I discover that Operation Paperback, in conjunction … [Read more...]

You Should Contribute to A Roth IRA While You Are In A Combat Zone

July 03, 2011 | Kate

 Update:  The importance of funding a Roth IRA while in a tax-exempt combat zone has lessened since the introduction of the Roth TSP option.  Either way, contribute to a Roth while you're tax-free. … [Read more...]

Special Pays: Pro-Rated or Whole Month

June 19, 2011 | Kate

I've had a few questions lately regarding which special pays are paid by the month, and which ones are pro-rated by the number of days that the pay applies.  I've tried to put together a list - … [Read more...]

American Red Cross Streamlines Emergency Notification System With Single Number

June 07, 2011 | Kate

Effective 13 June 2011, military families will only need to remember one toll-free number to access the American Red Cross' emergency notification services.  Rather than keeping track of a local … [Read more...]

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

April 08, 2011 | Kate

UPDATE:  I am getting a lot of feedback that there are other provisions in the SCRA that apply to this situation.  I can't find them, and I would love to get guidance on where it is located.  My … [Read more...]

Operation Purple Camp Registration Open

April 01, 2011 | Kate

The application period is now open for the National Military Family Association's traditional Operation Purple summer camp program.  Operation Purple camps are free camps for military children.  … [Read more...]

Operation Purple Camps Will Return!

March 01, 2011 | Kate

Good news from the National Military Family Association (NMFA)! After spending the winter trying to gather funding, the NMFA has announced plans for the 2011 Operation Purple Summer Camp season. … [Read more...]

Stop Loss Pay Deadline 4 March 2011

February 26, 2011 | Kate

After several extensions, the last day to claim retroactive stop loss pay (RSLSP) is now 4 March 2011 - that is next Friday!  If your enlistment was involuntarily extended between September 11, 2001 … [Read more...]

Reader Help Requested: Choosing a New Bank or Credit Union

January 31, 2011 | Kate

A reader, who is looking to make an educated decision about choosing a bank, asked if I could put together a list of banks and credit unions that post active duty pay one day early.  I'm not really … [Read more...]

Another Childcare Resource

January 25, 2011 | Kate

I finally found some decent information about the childcare partnership between the military and the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).  The website explains … [Read more...]

Accounting For Travel Money

January 13, 2011 | Kate

One thing that frustrates me as the checkbook keeper in a military family is keeping track of money that comes "through" our account for various expenses, particularly travel.  My husband travels a … [Read more...]

Happy New Years!

January 01, 2011 | Kate

I've been working on a few posts this morning, and then realized that none of them had the "It's a new year.  What do you want to make of it?" tone I wanted.  Then I started to write a New Year's … [Read more...]